July
14, 2006
Topics in today's issue of Extension Update:
NEW DIRECTOR NAMED TO LEAD AgWeatherNet
Gary G. Grove, a Washington State University professor
of plant pathology and Extension plant pathologist, is the first
director of the state’s newly expanded Agricultural Weather
Network. In the announcement by Dan Bernardo, CAHNRS Dean and Linda
Kirk Fox, Dan said, “Thanks to a partnership led by the state’s
tree fruit industry, the Washington Legislature has provided the
resources to expand a service that is vital to farmers throughout
the state. As a member of the AgWeatherNet Advisory Committee, Gary
has played a pivotal role in its development. Now as director, we
will have the benefit of his sustained leadership.”
Critically important to the state’s agricultural economy,
AgWeatherNet provides weather data used for everything from irrigation
scheduling for water use efficiency to frost prediction to protect
tree fruits and other crops. It provides weather data to underpin
pest and disease prediction models that lead to minimal and effective
use of pesticides, and many other weather-related production management
decisions. It also provides important data on wind for fire services
and for prediction of airborne particulates.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING - LIFE SCIENCES
DISCOVERY FUND
WSU has substantial scientific expertise in the area of
plant science. A significant opportunity to enhance our research
programs in the plant sciences exists with the creation of the Life
Sciences Discovery Fund by the Washington legislature in 2006. Applications
for these research funds, estimated to be about $35 million per
year, will begin in 2007 and possibly sooner.
Life Sciences Discovery Fund board member Dr. R. James Cook will
be in Pullman to conduct an informational meeting about the fund,
with an emphasis on plant science for human health on July 26, 2006
from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in Hulbert 409.
It will also be available by WECN.
In order to prepare for the electronic connections and to ensure
that we have a large enough room, please communicate your planned
attendance to Sheila Brooks in the ARC administrative office (5-4563,
sbrooks@wsu.edu).
Information about the Life Sciences Discovery Fund can be found
on the Web at:
http://www.governor.wa.gov/science/discovery/
FREE DIALING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON PHONE SYSTEM
Information Technology Services has been working with the
University of Washington to establish a direct link between our
respective phone systems.
The link is now completed and will be used for disaster recovery
purposes should either the U of W or WSU have an outage with a local
connection. It will also be used to provide free (non toll) dialing
from the WSU phone system to U of W locations resulting in a cost
savings to WSU departments.
Therefore calls from the following number ranges will now be free.
(Please note that all 10 digits must be dialed in order to avoid
conflicts with similar WSU numbers.)
206 221-xxxx 206 744-xxxx
206 520-xxxx 206 897-xxxx
206 543-xxxx 206 934-xxxx
206 616-xxxx 253 692-xxxx
206 685-xxxx 425 352-xxxx
Source: Dave Ostrom, Director of Communication & Network Services
ostrom@wsu.edu
CHELAN COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE MOVE
Below is the schedule for the Chelan County Extension office
move:
July 27 - Office closed for final packing. Phones
and internet access will be disconnected.
July 28 - Office closed. Begin moving into new
offices. Phones and internet access will be disconnected.
July 31 - Office closed. Finish moving file cabinets
into new office, unpacking, setting up computers, printers, etc.
Phones will work - although they may not be answered. Internet access
down.
August 1 - Office RE-OPENS. Phones will be working
- and answered. Internet access may be down until the end of the
week.
Phone numbers will not change: 509-667-6540; FAX:
509-667-6561
NEW ADDRESS: 400 Washington Street, Wenatchee,
WA 98801
4-H CHECKLIST AVAILABLE FOR EXTENSION
EDUCATORS
'4-H isn't what it used to be.'......... I bet you've heard
those words before and that is an absolutely true statement.....4-H
isn't what it used to be ----its so much more! 4-H the youth development
program of Washington State University Extension ,now approaching
the completion of its 104th year, has a far more diverse palette
of opportunities than existed a century ago. In 1902 you could grow
corn or can tomatoes----what more could a young person possibly
want to do? Our 104 year 4-H history has answered that inquiry with
premiere science, social science, human development, cultural and
international programs. The same 4-H program that can help a young
person raise a steer is also the program that can development a
young person's videographer skills. While I am very proud of the
achievements of our Extension educators, volunteers and youth across
Washington it is also increasingly challenging for our Extension
personnel to provide a minimally safe environment for all of your
youth.
To assist Extension educators in this process, the following checklist
has been developed. This checklist is designed as a quick reference
guide for Extension faculty and staff in determining the minimum
4-H programmatic standards and practices to ensure a quality youth
development experience for Washington's young people. Its comparable
to a tree, the items on the checklist are the "trunk"
that must be place for a 4-H Youth Development Program to be offered.
There are many branches that can be added to enhance the program
offerings.
Special thanks need to be expressed to Jerry Newman, the 4-H Core
Committee, the counties that reviewed the checklist and Joy Faerber
all of who worked to make this checklist user-friendly. The checklist
is accessible from the 4-H website at: http://4h.wsu.edu/staff/checklist.htm
We welcome your feedback on making the checklist helpful to you.
Source: Pat BoyEs
SCHEDULE
Linda will be on annual leave next week, July 17-21. John
will be in Pullman on Monday and Thursday. He will be in Spokane
on Tuesday attending the NE District Faculty Meeting, in Snoqualmie
Pass on Wednesday attending a stakeholders’ meeting and visiting
Prosser on Friday.
******************************
Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Dean and Director
Washington State University Extension
PO Box 646230, 411 Hulbert Hall
Pullman WA 99164-6230
(509) 335-2933 Office
(509) 335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
FAX (509) 335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu
|
